Dear Friends and Neighbors,

CentraCare and Carris Health care givers have been working around the clock for more than 20 months to care for you, your families and friends during COVID. We are committed to caring for every Minnesotan who needs us, and nothing will prevent us from doing so – even during these never-seen-before times.

The challenge of providing this level of care is that our hospital beds are often full. ERs in all of our hospitals are packed. And our clinical teams are exhausted. Early in the pandemic, our community stepped up in amazing ways to helps us. We ask that you again join us in fighting this pandemic together.

How can you help?

  • Please get your COVID vaccines and booster shots. They are proven safe and effective in reducing COVID illness, keeping people out of the hospital, and preventing death.
  • If your situation is not an emergency, please use other care options, including:
  • If this is a medical emergency, call 9-1-1, or visit the ER.

Together, we can do this. Thank you for your support.

Ken Holmen, MD
President and CEO

Emergency Services

At the Ready — 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

By their very nature, emergencies can cause panic and concern. We understand the range of emotions you may experience when you decide a trip to the emergency room is necessary. We can assure you that the expert care you need is available when it matters most.

Carris Heath provides well-equipped emergency services at : Rice Memorial Hospital.

View Emergency Department Wait Times

Is it a Medical Emergency?

If you have any doubt as to whether you have an emergency, you’re encouraged to come in. Some of the more common symptoms that could signal a serious medical emergency include:

  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Stroke symptoms, such as slurred speech, severe headaches or weakness on one side of the body
  • Sharp or severe pain
  • Cuts or large abrasions
  • Possible broken bones
  • Any symptom that you feel needs immediate medical attention

Signs of a Stroke

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Walking difficulties, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • A severe headache with no known cause

For more information about stroke prevention visit the American Stroke Association.

Signs of a Heart Attack

  • Chest pain and/or discomfort
  • Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back
  • Feeling of uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
  • Shortness of breath — with or without chest discomfort
  • Breaking out into a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

For more information about heart attack prevention visit the American Heart Association.

Emergency Services Team Members

Carris Health - Rice Memorial Hospital

Emergency Services Visiting Physicians

Carris Health - Redwood Hospital

  • Christopher Callahan, MD
  • Thomas Chapa, MD
  • Sarah Dryden, DO
  • Stella Ekong, MD
  • Kimberly Haycraft-Williams, MD
  • Leighanne Houserman, MD
  • Kevin Marble, MD
  • Carlos Moscoso, MD
  • Dean Munnell, MD
  • Kene Ogbogu, MD
  • Alan Olson, MD
  • Roxanee Pierre, MD
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